Homily Monday of the First Week of Lent (Feast of the Chair of St. Peter)

Homily Monday of the First Week of Lent (Feast of the Chair of St. Peter)

When I was in graduate school, I took a trip to Rome.  I have had the privilege of going two times to the eternal city.  One of the first places we went was to the Basilica of St. Peter.  I was impressed by the immensity of the place.  In 1980 it was possible to move more freely around Rome.  Whenever we wanted to go into the Basilica, we could visit any side chapel we wanted.

I remember that one day we went up on the dome of St. Peter, the highest place in Rome.  We could look down on St. Peter’s square and all around the colonnade. It felt like one was standing on top of the world. But there were places in the Vatican that were hid away, spots with great meaning.

I remember I was asked one afternoon if I wanted to visit the tomb of St. Peter.  I did not know what I was going to see.  We went with a seminarian who had special access.  My friends and I were taken down below the floor of St. Peter’s.  Little did I realize that the present church was built over the ruins of the original.  The dirt had been dug away and we could see the columns that the present basilica sat on.  I remember wondering how the whole church did not just collapse.

But then we went down another level which had been excavated under the Pontificate of Pius XII.  Archaeologists wanted to find Peter’s grave.  Some thought this was not a good idea.  What if it turned out there was nothing to find?  Our guide took us through the seminary.  He explained, when we got to the original tomb, that the people searching for Peter’s bones did not find him there.

But they noticed on one of the walls of the cemetery graffiti which read, “The bones of the fisherman lie here.” An arrow pointed to a spot.  The excavators opened the wall and inside they found the bones of a man who had done hard labor his whole life.  The man was in his 50’s when he died and was of Middle Eastern origin.  Our guide said dramatically as he pointed to small pile of bone fragments, “This is Peter, and this church was built around him.”  It was a very touching experience and I found it interesting that Peter made it all the way to Rome 20 centuries ago and he was buried in that spot.

Reflection Questions:

1. Is it important to me that the church is built on the faith of the Apostles?   What does it mean that the Catholic Church traces its origins to the twelve?
2. Peter said he was a sinner.  What does his declaration mean to me?

Dear Parishioners,

          Today I remember my first trip to Rome.  Behind the high altar was a large stained-glass window of the Holy Spirit.  In front of the window, hanging in the air, was a huge ornate chair.  It was a reminder of the fact that the Pope is the visible head of the church.

          I am reminded that the present Pope is named Francis. Francis has tried to do away with a lot of the pomp and circumstance that other Popes have cultivated.  He is self-effacing.  As someone said once.  He is comfortable in his own skin.  He has apologized for mistakes he has made and has talked about his struggles openly. I find this refreshing.

          Great leaders are known to be wonderful servants.  Peter was a simple fisherman.  Francis is a man from a poor country in South America.  The Pope is the visible head of the church.  Hopefully, we respect not only the office, but the Christian who holds the office.

          May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.

          Fr. Mark